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Picture from paddyhillsbagger : Even the grand kids can climb this one!

Picture: Even the grand kids can climb this one!

Popular hill to walk.

by paddyhillsbagger 30 Jan 2014

Thank goodness I had previously scaled some of the minor tops on the new listing!
Knockmaa is a lovely little hill clearly visible from the N17 as you head North towards Tuam. Access is via a car park and walking trail off the R333 road at M355 495A. Walk Sth to a cottage and follow the trail either left or right (it's circular) to it's highest point. Head Sth again off track up through the trees and you will climb up a rocky scree slope where the trig point and fine views can be had. It was very windy the day I took my then 4yr old granddaughter up back in 2005 and the grey hairs on my head hadn't started appearing! Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/1331/comment/15798/

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Great reward for only a little effort.

by garrettd 28 Sep 2014

I climbed Knockma on my return from a walk in Joyce Country. I didn't know its name, I had no map and I wasn't even sure if it was a listed summit on Mountainviews. As the only prominent hill for miles around I had a fair guess that it was but it would have been well worth the effort in any case.

Park in the public car park and walk straight up the path with the (late 16th century?) tower house (a seat of the Kirwans, one of the seven tribes of Galway) remains on your left. When you reach the white cottage turn left where you'll see a number of interesting plaques. One commemorates Patrick Kelly (1822-1864), who led the famed Irish Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. He was born in the immediate vicinity of Knockma and died one week into the 9 month siege of Petersburg, Virginia in June 1864.

The second plaque commemorates the 1968 epic movie 'Alfred the Great (starring Sir Ian McKellen, Sinead Cusack and Michael York among others)' which was partly shot around Knockma. According to Wikipedia, the idea was to make Castlehacket look as much like Wessex as possible, even etching a 200 foot long white horse into the side of the hill!

Follow the track as far as M359489B and take the narrow worn track behind the "Knockma" sign straight uphill to the ridge. The outcropping limestone is reminiscent of the Burren (soon visible to the south west) and the summit ridge is rich in iron age antiquities including a fort and a massive cairn on which is perched the summit trig. Knockma is the reputed resting place of Queen Maeve of Connacht and the residence (still) of Finnbheara, the King of the Connacht fairies.

The views include the aforementioned Burren, the Maumturks, Galway Bay and Slieve Aughty Hills. The visibility on my visit was not the best but I imagine that peaks as far south as Keeper Hill would be discernible on a clear day in winter. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/1331/comment/17695/

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Picture from shaneanddearbh : View west from Knockmaa

Picture: View west from Knockmaa

Beautiful Wooded Hill

by shaneanddearbh 27 Jul 2014

Knonkmaa Woods is a beautiful walk, about 4km long and takes about 1 hour at a casual pace. Fantastic views to the west of the Corrib and Connemara, Mayo to the North with the peak of Croagh Patrick visible on a good day. To the east there is a great view across North Galway. The road and path is well maintained and is accessible to all. The Cairn at the top is easily missed however. Near a ruin named 'Daithi's Leaba' (Davids Bed) there is a wall on top of a ridge. There is a gap in the wall and a path, this will lead you to the summit and to a great panorama. Fantastic Sunday walk for all. Highly recommend. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/1331/comment/17571/

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Picture from TommyV : Castle Hackett I assume!

Picture: Castle Hackett I assume!

One for the family.

by TommyV 29 Oct 2018

Off the R333 there is parking at Castlehackett at M35604 49423C. This is a simple trail loop around the the hill. Near the summit, branch off the trail at M36048 48461D at a wall along the ridge line to the ruins of an old castle, a stone cross and the trig point which sit on top of a large cairn before rejoining the trail and continuing the loop. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/1331/comment/20101/

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Picture from sandman : Summit Trig

Picture: Summit Trig

Local Amenity.

by sandman 22 Apr 2014

Situated in a well developed and supported walking ammenity as mentioned by previous comment the summit trig sits atop a large cairn. (H3616048371E) Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/1331/comment/16027/